to show that we are together and united. we gather in such a moment of heartbreak for all of us here in newtown. we gather especially mindful of family and friends and neighbors among us who have lost loved ones by an act of unfathomable violence and destruction. we gathered to greet together, to care for one another, to pray and embrace, to weep and to remember, to declare in our many voices that these darkest days of our community shall not be the final words heard from ross. -- from us. we will care for one another. with our love and compassion. in those early hours of this crisis, it became clear to the clergy and state leaders -- faith leaders that an initial committed to response would be needed, that we needed to come together. we ask our first select woman and our superintendent if it might be possible for us to gather the community together here at newtown high-school to continue what will be for many a long journey in grief and loss. we are not here to ignore or differences or to diminish the core beliefs which def